Maine town holds off on pot dispensaries

TOPSHAM, Maine (AP) — Officials in the Maine town of Topsham have voted to extend the town's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries for up to six more months.

Topsham's Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Nov. 18 to extend the ban. But the moratorium would end if voters at a special town meeting in January support an ordinance to govern the dispensaries.

Maine law limits the number of dispensaries to one in each of eight districts. The dispensary for the district covering Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties has been awarded to Northeast Patients Group, which plans to open its dispensary in Thomaston.

But Topsham Planning Director Rich Roedner told the Sun Journal of Lewiston that the state could expand the number of authorized facilities, so it's necessary to have local rules in place.